Awning fixture



March 14, 1944, w. KROER -z`,343,9o9

AWNING FIXTURE Filed NOV. 2, 1942 I /f/'A/azd mar Kto/fer,

n @M @AW Patented Mar. 14, 1944 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AWNING FIXTURE Waldemar Kroier, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application November Z, 1942, Serial No. 464,231

12 Claims. (Cl. 160-22) The present invention relates to awnings and has for its object to provide an awning fixture which will eiectively ventilate the awning by relieving it of trapped air and also permit :the escape of heated air from a room throughthe window or door opening protected by the awning. The construction is designed to form a protective canopy which will be moved as the awning is raised or lowered so as to take proper positions for ventilation when the awning is down and be shifted to protect the awning when it is raised.

In my Patent No. 1,867,082, granted July 12, 1932, is shown an arrangement of the same general type, and while the construction of the patent is satisfactory, I have improved on that construction by simplifying the make-up of the nxture, reducing the amount of material necessary to manufacture it, and'have made changes which render its operation easy without sacricing any of the features found in my earlier construction.

In the drawing herewith:

Figure 1 is a sectional View showing the canopy and awning fixture in its lowered position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the canopy and awning lixture in its raised position; and

Figure 3 is a broken view in elevation looking from the left in Figure 2, the awning fabric being shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, I indicates supporting brackets which may be secured to the frame of the window or door opening with which the awning is to be used. The brackets Ill as there shown are right angular in formation, one flange being suitably secured as by screws to the wall surface and the other flange projecting outwardly at right angles thereto.

Movably mounted on the outwardly projecting ange of the bracket I 0 by means of pivots II are canopy supporting members I2 of right angle construction'in cross section, the pivots II lconnecting the vertical flange of the supporting members I2 to the bracket I0 and the horizontal flange of the supporting members I2 supporting a canopy I 3 suitably secured thereto by screw bolts I4. The canopy I3 extends across the front of the xture and preferably has its end edges turned in opposite directions so as to give a downwardly turned end I5 at the forward end of the canopy and an upwardly turned end I6 atthe rear end ofthe canopy, this upwardly turned end I6 cooperating, when the awning and canopy are in lowered position, with a drip flange II secured in any suitable manner as by screws to the wall llli surface just above the bracket I0 as clearly shown in Figure 1, so as to4 exclude rain.

The canopy and its supporting members are coupled by a linkage arrangement here shown as made up of two links I8 and I9 pivotally connected by screw bolt 20 with the bracket I0 by means of the screw bolts 2l. This linkage serves to control the position of the canopy when the linkage is broken as shown in Figure 1, or straightened as shown in Figure 2. One set of the links, here shown as the links I8, has a projecting web 23 with openings to receive an awning rod 24 here shown as a hollow bar` and to hold the rod in place against longitudinal shifting I provide the caps 25 suitably secured so as to house the ends of the rod 24. The awning fabric is made up in the usual manner with the central portion 26 secured to the rod 24 and the side portions 26 secured in any suitable manner, as by screws 21 or other fastening means to the brackets IS, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, holes being suitably placed in the bracket ilanges to receive the fastening means.

When the awning ventilator or xture is in its lowered position, as shown in Figure 1, the linkage Aarrangement described will be broken, the link I9 will be in a vertical position and the link I8 drawn to an angular position, lowering the canopy I3 and its supports with the ange I6 contacting the member I 'I closing the xture against drip as will be clear from Figure 1. In this position of the awning and fixture, the canopy I3 will overlie the awning and its associated parts and protect the awning and its associated parts from the e1ementsthe canopy I3 inl this position serving to shed rain and preventing it from accumulating in the folds of the awning fabric. At the same time,.as indicated by arrows in Figure l, if the window or door which is protected is opened, the yheated air from the room may readily escape, but it will be seen that the canopy I3 eiectlvely screens, such opening or entrance from sunlight or rain.

In the position of the parts as shown in Figure 2 with the awning ventilator or fixture raised,

the linkage will be straightened so that the links I8 and I9 lie in line with each other and a full ventilating opening is provided through which the air trapped by the yawning may pass and further, heated air from the room, whether it be a window or door, will pass outwardly above the awning beneath the canopyy and completo ventilation will take place while at the same time the canopy I3 prevents the entrance of light or rain above the awning proper.

In order to prevent the links from breaking outwardly beyond the straightened position shown in Figure 2, and to give the parts proper rigidity against side sway caused by wind, I provide the link I9 with an overhanging flange 21 in which the link I8 will be nested in the position shown in Figure 2. It will be seen that the flange 21 on the end of link I9 extending beyond the pivot 30 will prevent overthrow or breaking of the link age outwardly. Additionally, the flange 21 will guard against side sway of the links. It will be seen that the flange 21 is relatively long and wide so as to give an extended bearing which will effectively brace the links against side sway. Ob-

viously, as an equivalent or alternative construction, the flange 21 could be applied to the link I8 by reversing the position of the flange so that the extension on the link IS would engage such reversed flange and overthrow and breaking and side sway of the linkage would be taken care of. The lower link I9 will be held and stiifened by means of a flange 28 formed on the bracket Ill and this flange will preferably be of such width that it will house and stiffen the link I9 in both the positions shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. This flange construction is of considerable irnportance for it, as well as flange 21, not only prevents the linkage from breaking outwardly but also relieves it and the canopy from side strains or stresses which would tend to bend the links or disturb their pivotal connections. The flange 23 has the further important function of guarding against catching and jamming of the side portions 28 of the awning in the linkage when the awning is raised or lowered and the side portions fold and crumple.

Preferably and to provide a compact arrangement and close relation of the parts, the brackets are provided with indented or sunken places 29 which receive the ends of the bolts 30 which couple the links I8 and I9 together.

In operation the awning 25 will be raised and lowered by any suitable actuating means. When the awning is lowered the rod 24 supporting the upper edge of the awning will be moved inward to the position shown in Figure l. with the links I8 and I9 in broken relation. When the awning is raised the rod 24 will move outward and take the position shown in Figure 2, with the links I8 and I9 in straightened relation.

The brackets I0 are here shown in right and left hand positions but they may be used interchangeably as rights or lefts, the construction of the outwardly projecting flange being such that .fil

Si (l the linkage and awning rod may be mounted in the brackets I 0 regardless of their position on the bracket support. Furthermore, since it is necessary, or at least desirable, in awnings of any considerable length, to place linkages for the canopy at approximately every three feet lengthwise to insure proper support of the canopy and awning and prevent sagging, the brackets can be readily disposed in these intermediate positions without regard to their set up whether right or left postion.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an awning fixture is provided which has but few parts, reducing to a minimum the amount of material necessary; that it is an extremely simple construction; operable to perform the functions described, and the parts are so assembled that the danger of derangement or injury of parts is practically eliminated, while at the same time a very effective Ventilating arrangement is provided and the awning fabric and its associated parts will be protected from the elements.

The construction disclosed is the best now known to me, but it will be understood that such changes as are within the range of mechanical skill may be made without departing from the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A xture of the class described comprising a canopy movably mounted on a fixed support, a linkage connecting said canopy with a fixed support7 and a movable awning rod mounted on a plurality of sets of the links and operable to break or straighten said linkage and lower or raise said canopy.

2. A fixture of the class described comprising a canopy pivotally mounted on a fixed support, a linkage connecting said canopy with a fixed support, a movable awning rod mounted on a plurality of sets of the links and operable to break or straighten said linkage and lower or raise said canopy, and means to prevent breakage of said links in one direction and stifien the linkage against side sway.

3. A fixture of the class described comprising canopy movably mounted on a fixed support, links connecting said canopy with a fixed support, a movable awning rod mounted on a plurality of said links and operable to break or straighten said links and lower or raise said canopy, an extension on one of said links beyond the pivotal connecting point of said link, and means on said extension to engage the associated link and prevent breakage of the links in one direction and stiifen the links against side sway.

4. A fixture of the class described comprising a canopy movably mounted on a fixed support, links connecting the ends of said canopy with a fixed support, a movable awning rod mounted on a plurality of said links and operable to break or straighten said links and lower or raise said canopy, an extension on one of said links beyond the pivotal connecting point of said link, means on said extension to engage the associated link andprevent breakage of the links in one direction and stiffen the links against side sway, and means adjacent the end of one of said levers to stiften and hold it against side sway in any of ie adjusted positions and prevent catching of the awning fabric in the linkage.

5. A fixture of the class described comprising a canopy p'votally mounted on a fixed support, pivotally connected links connecting said canopy with said support, a movable awning rod mounted on said links, an extension on one of said links beyond the link connecting pivot, and a flange member on said link extension to engage the associated link and prevent breakage of the links in one direction and stiffen the links against side sway.

6. A xture of the class described comprising a canopy pivotally mounted on a fixed support, pivotally connected links connecting said canopy with said support, movable awning rod mounted on said links, an extension on one of said links beyond the link connecting pivot, a flange member on said link extension to engage the associated link and prevent breakage of the links in one direction and stiffen the links against side sway, and a fixed flange at the lower end of the links to guide and stiften the links against side sway and prevent catching of the awning fabric in the linkage.

'1. A fixture of the class described comprising supporting brackets, a canopy pivotally mounted on said brackets, pivotally connected links connecting said canopy with said brackets, a movable awning rod mounted on said links, an extension on one of said links extending past the associated link connecting pivot, an integral bentover flange member on the extension to engage the associated link and prevent breakage of the links in one direction and stifen the links against side sway, and a fixed flange on the supporting bracket to engage the lower end of the link to guide and stiien the links against side sway and prevent catching of the awning fabric in the linkage.

S. A iixture of the class described comprising supporting brackets, a canopy pivotally mounted on said brackets, a drip flange disposed above the rear end of said canopy, pivotally connected links connecting said canopy with said brackets, a movable awningl rod mounted on said links, an extension on one of said links extending past the associated link connecting pivot, an integral ent-over flange on said link extension to engage tne associated link and prevent breakage of the links in one direction and stien the links against side sway, and an extended fixed flange o said links and operable to break or straighten said links and lower or raise said canopy, an extension on one of said links beyond the pivotal connecting point of said link, means on said extension to engage the associated link and prevent breakage of the links in one direction and stiien the links against side sway, and means adjacent the end of one of said levers to stiffen and hold them against side sway in any of the adjusted positions and prevent catching of the side awning fabric in the linkage.

10. A xture of the class described comprising .a canopy movably mounted on afixed support,

links connecting said canopy with said support, a movable awning rod mounted on said links and operable to break or straighten said links and lower or raise said canopy, an awning having a central portion engaging said rod at its top, awning sides connected with said central portion, and means to secure said awning sides to said iixed support.

l1. A xture of the class described comprising a canopy pivotally mounted on a fixed support, a linkage connecting said canopy with a xed support, a movable awning rod mounted on a plurality of sets of links and operable to break or straighten said linkage and lower or raise said canopy, and means on one link operative to engage the other link and prevent breakage oi' said links in one direction and stiifen the linkage against side sway.

i2, A fixture of the class described comprising a canopy pivotally mounted on a fixed support, a linkage connecting said canopy with a fixed support, a movable awning rod mounted on a plurality ci sets of links and operable to break or straighten said linkage and lower or raise said canopy, and a flange on one link operative to the other link and prevent breakage of said links in one direction and stiien the linkage against side sway.

WALDEMAR KROIER. 

